Israel PM says Russia pledged not to supply nuclear fuel to Iran

( RIA Novosti ) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that during his visit to Moscow last week, the Russian president assured him that Moscow would not supply nuclear fuel to Iran, the Haaretz daily reported.

Olmert met with President Vladimir Putin last Thursday, a day after the Russian leader returned from a summit of Caspian States in Iran. During the talks in the Kremlin, the prime minister urged Putin to support international sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. The Kremlin confirmed that the sides had discussed Tehran, but did not give a detailed account of the negotiations.

The Israeli paper quoted Olmert as telling a meeting with Jewish groups in London on Tuesday: "I can reveal one detail of my meeting with Russian President Putin last week. Russia has decided not to supply nuclear fuel to Iran, in spite of all the declarations and the rumors. Russia understands the implications of its decision, and understands that the international community expects it not to supply that nuclear fuel."

The Israeli premier held a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown earlier on Tuesday, at which Brown agreed to push for stronger sanctions against Iran, both through the European Union and the United Nations Security Council.

Olmert said: "If we come to terms today with the Iranian nuclear program, in the future we will need to pay an unacceptable price, one that we cannot tolerate. This is a long process that will not be resolved in the near future, but I am optimistic."

During his visit to Tehran last week, President Vladimir Putin said there was no firm evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons. He also said Russia would complete the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iraq, and that Russia would supply nuclear fuel to the country.

Russian nuclear equipment export monopoly Atomstroyexport has been building Iran's first nuclear power plant despite opposition from Western countries.

Putin said Russia would start supplying fuel to Bushehr when a commissioning date is set, and contract obligations are amended.

"Under International Atomic Energy Agency rules, nuclear fuel will be supplied several months before a nuclear reactor is commissioned," he said.